Midtown Lunch

Philly’s Cafe is a welcoming spot on Walnut Street offering sandwiches, soups, and pastries along with a list of caffeinated beverages. On a warmer day, grabbing a sandwich and sitting in Washington Square Park would be a solid idea, but enjoying a warm drink and relaxing inside the cafe while watching everyone else bustle about is perfect for a January afternoon.  I knew that the space was formerly occupied by Danny’s and served Vietnamese hoagies. I was happy to find out that I did not blow my chances of banh mi and tea because Philly’s Cafe is serving them.

For $8 you receive a soup, half a sandwich, a bag of chips, and a hot drink. It is a pretty complete package. I enjoyed the full experience of sipping a fruity tea and taking advantage of the wifi.

My soup was tomato florentine, which is probably better for me than the standard tomato soup because it was less creamy and had  veggies in it. I stuck with the healthy theme with my sandwich choice.

My 1/2 sandwich was a tofu banh mi. It came on multi grain bread because they were out of french bread, so the authenticity level decreased a little. They also use a tangy dressing instead of mayo, which is a smart idea to give more flavor to the tofu. It is topped off with cilantro and shredded carrots and daikon.

I really liked that I was able to get a complete lunch in a relaxing setting. The pleasant vibe reverberates from the big windows to the walls. They hang up art by local students which are available for purchase.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Healthy and tasty lunch combos

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• More tofu is needed to be proportional with the thick bread

Philly’s Cafe, 725 Walnut Street (@ 7th) 215 625 3666